Surprise Visit Day 4: Knott's Berry Farm

Contrary to spending the day at a young spirited theme park,

it really had me feeling rather old. It'd been quite some time

since I'd ridden on a roller coaster and I've gotta tell ya, it kinda

rattled my brain and jerked my bones to exhaustion pretty early on.

I learned that I am more afraid of heights than even I myself knew, 

and that I'm not as spontaneous or fearless as I was once or would

like to be. However, I did ride every ride in the park excluding the

water rides, (have you smelled that water?!) and the boat will forever be my 

favorite. My mom even jumped on a couple coasters and we had some fun 

convos while we sat out the repeat rides for the other two. It was so 

much fun squeezing misters hand tight, laughing at screamy face photos, and watching him be the sweetest and so cute with Trinity. He said she stole his heart when she made friends with another kiddie in line and said she 

was here visiting her "aunt and uncle." Precious.

Having her here this week and doing so many kid things has got the both

of us feeling preeetty baby crazy. I keep reminding toots that I

hate odd numbers and I don't want a baby born in 2013 but then I just

feel a little silly. Were gonna keep pushing through and try to hold out

as long as possible, but I know it will come sooner rather than later, 

especially with his eagerness for a baby and my weakness for babies.

It's weird how it's what I've looked forward to my whole life, and now that 

it's here in front of me, the subject makes me so scared and anxious,

but like an excited scared and anxious! Eeeek! I can say though,

 that I'm more confident in doing anything to move forward with him

than I have been ever before in my life by a landslide. I couldn't

be happier with the person I chose and I feel too lucky that he 

chose me back. (This got way off topic.) KNOTT'S!

Drey $ Nicole

Surprise Visit Day 3: Dinner and Movies on the Beach

After a long day of soakin' in the ocean and the suns warm rays,

we polished up with a shower and hit a local favorite called Berth 55!

It's the freshest seafood in town and it's a true hidden gem!

(Took us a couple re-routes on the maps AND a pull into a gas

station for some help to find it!) It's so good that it's quite the

controversy around town right now! Someone with the city is trying

to out buy the owner of 40 years because the spot is ideal for 

his potential docking plans. This has the town in a fit, posting

pleads rants and raves in their reviews online, and even going so

far as to start a petition to keep the place in business. (Which

we signed after dinner.) 

After stuffing our guts with loads of halibut, calamari and snapper,

we topped the night off with the weekly showing of Movies on the Beach.

Trinity was extra excited over seeing Titanic, having only seen half of it.

She even out did mister and stayed awake until the very end!

I feel a new tradition coming on.

Drey $ Nicole

Surprise Visit Day 2: Retro Row

1. Up bright and early for a day of vintage shopping on the infamous Retro Row

2. Mom got to ride shotgun all week since I immediately took over her mini cooper

3. We all died over this beautiful 3,000 dollar pair of vintage chairs

4 & 5. Little hipster in training? She loved my favorite shop almost as much as me!

6. Brightness and feel-good item overload

7. This is about the time she couldn't hang and was over how much my mama and me shop when we get together

8. The cutest little retro barber shop called Salon Pop! The colors are fitting, Eh?

9 & 10. This little lady loves fruit more than anyone- including adults- that I know! I've lost count of how many "fruit salads" she's had since being here while the rest of indulge. She even orders the fruit cup over the waffle fries with her chickfila kids meal! Beats me.

Drey $ Nicole

Surprise Visit: Day One

In the words of my ten year old sweet baby niece, Trinity:

My grandma called and said I could go to California with her last weekend, so I packed all of my clothes and went on a plane for the first time in my life. I was so nervous. After we landed we hopped on a bus and grabbed a rental car that I just loved, a green mini cooper. On the way to my aunt's house we kept getting lost, only it was all a big surprise so we couldn't call her to get help. When we finally found the place grandma kept texting her to come outside and she was super confused, but when she said green mini cooper and my aunt saw it out of the window, she ran out screaming! We had come all the way from Texas and I was barely able to keep the secret! My aunt was so happy we were there that she was doing a little dance, and that made me so happy! After we got settled in we walked around the block to eat breakfast because it was still a little early in the morning. I ordered two chocolate chip pancakes that I liked a lot and then we went to the beach. It was the first time I had ever experienced being at a beach, too. I really loved the ocean and the waves and the sand in my toes. I made sand castles and bonded with my new uncle and I saw three dolphins! That was so amazing to see them for the first time in real life. I ran with my aunt into the ocean and it was really cold! We all played in the waves together and had fun like a happy family. I really love the beach and can't wait for the rest of my week here!

I<3CA

Trinity